Summary

• A delightful twist: Science Dog becomes Séance Dog, engaging fans with a nod and a mystery in Invincible's animated adaptation.
• Invincible reimagines superhero lore with complex characters and familial bonds - standout character Science Dog now Séance Dog.
• The change from Science Dog to Séance Dog in the show was due to retaining rights for a potential spin-off series continuity.

In the animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman's groundbreaking comic series, Invincible, viewers were treated to a delightful twist on Mark Grayson's preferred comic book saga; Séance Dog. No longer Science Dog, the cherished series was reintroduced as Séance Dog, serving as both a humorous nod to loyal fans and a mystery that has piqued the curiosity of many. This change is a testament to the show's playful engagement with its source material and its audience's expectations.

Invincible is a bold reimagining of superhero lore, centered on the life of Mark Grayson, who is voiced by Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead). Mark is the progeny of Omni-Man, a character that mirrors Superman not only in his superhuman abilities but also in his extraterrestrial origins, hailing from the distant planet of Viltrum. The series stands out for its intricate character development and a narrative that intricately weaves the complexities of familial bonds with the burdens of heroism, but one of the standouts is Science Dog, now known as Séance Dog.

Science Dog Is An Invincible Comic Book Character With His Own Spinoff

The Comic-Book-Within-A-Comic-Book Character Is A Scientist Adventurer

In the rich tapestry of the Invincible universe, Science Dog emerges as a uniquely captivating character, beloved by both the protagonist, Mark Grayson, and fans of the series alike. Conceived by the creative minds of Robert Kirkman and artist Cory Walker, Science Dog is more than just a fictional superhero within a superhero comic; he's a brilliant scientist and adventurer, boasting an intellect that rivals his physical prowess. His stories are filled with daring exploits and mind-bending scientific discoveries, serving as a comic book within a comic book that Mark Grayson avidly collects and draws inspiration from.

Science Dog's adventures offer a meta-narrative that parallels and contrasts with Mark's own journey, grounding the fantastical elements of the Invincible series with a touch of relatable fandom. Building on his popularity, Science Dog was granted his own spinoff series with a distinctly pulp-fiction flavor, allowing fans to dive deeper into the lore and adventures of this intrepid canine.

Of course, this is a fun twist on the pulp character from the Invincible comics

However, the pilot episode of Amazon's animated series references Mark's love of comics, showing him reading an issue of his favorite series: Invincible's "Séance Dog." In Invincible episode 3, he describes it as being "about a Jack Russel terrier who's a master at the metaphysical arts." Of course, this is a fun twist on the pulp character from the Invincible comics, who is a super-evolved terrier with an impressive command over the sciences.

Why Science Dog Was Changed To Séance Dog In The Prime Video Series

Robert Kirkman Wanted To Retain The Science Dog Rights To Continue The Spinoff Comic Book Series

According to an interview with Kirkman in Decider, the character change comes down to property rights. After the success of the comic series Invincible, Robert Kirkman and illustrator Cory Walker turned Science Dog into its own spin-off series, and Science Dog Volume 1 debuted in 2011. In his interview with Decider, Kirkman stateed that he and Walker wanted to retain the rights to Science Dog as a stand-alone series so that they could pursue using the property down the line:

[...] the nuts and bolts answer is that Science Dog is a separate comic book that Cory Walker and I created that just happened to appear [in Invincible]. It’s possible that we may do a movie or TV show or something at some point. Instead of putting that down in our deal with Amazon, on Invincible, we decided to strip it out and put in something new so that we would have the ability to do that.

In a Reddit AMA, Kirkman elaborated, stating that Science Dog is:

"A separate idea that was featured in Invincible... While it's easy to have those things appear in a comic, it's a legal nightmare to make it work in a show."

Amazon's X-Ray feature acknowledges the change:

"Mark's reading a Séance Dog comic — a title unique to the television series. It's a play on Science Dog — Mark's favorite comic from the original Invincible comic series."

Amazon doesn't explain why the change was made, but it makes sense that they wouldn't in this context. Even Kirkman's more direct answer is a bit ambiguous, in the sense that it neither confirms nor denies existing plans or intentions to adapt Science Dog. However, Séance Dog did appear in Invincible season 2, and along with his name, he has a distinctly different appearance and abilities, embodying more of a Doctor Strange type than an action hero.